Bag feeding apparatus for bag closing machine

ABSTRACT

A bag feeding apparatus for a bag closing machine comprises a rigid frame carrying a pair of bag guiding assemblies positioned in side by side relationship on opposite sides of a path along which open top bags are carried to a sewing head for stitching. Each bag guiding assembly has an endless belt circumscribing a plurality of pulleys, each pulley having circumferential ribs engaging mating grooves in the adjacent belt. The belt of each bag guiding assembly is drivingly connected to a mechanical transmission, a segment of each belt being parallel to and closely adjacent the bag path and on opposed lateral sides of the path in confronting relationship with one another and cooperating to engage bag tops therebetween and guide them to the sewing head. Means are provided to movably mount one of the bag guiding assemblies for movement toward and away from the remaining assembly, thereby reducing the danger of an operator&#39;&#39;s limbs or clothing becoming caught therebetween. A universal coupling interconnects the power transmission and the movable bag guiding assembly to permit continuous driving of the moveable assembly. A spring device returns the moveable assembly to its rest position contacting the remaining assembly.

United States Patent 1 Fischbein et al.

[451 May 13, 1975 1 BAG FEEDING APPARATUS FOR BAG CLOSING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Harold Fischbein, Edina; I. George Fischbein; Sam Shark, both of Minneapolis, all of Minn.

[73] Assignee: Dave Fischbein Manufacturing C0.,

Minneapolis, Minn.

22 Filed: Aug. 2, 1973 21 App]. No.: 385,105

Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant ExaminerHorace M, Culver Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Williamson, Bains & Moore [57] ABSTRACT A bag feeding apparatus for a bag closing machine comprises a rigid frame carrying a pair of bag guiding assemblies positioned in side by side relationship on opposite sides of a path along which open top bags are carried to a sewing head for stitching. Each bag guiding assembly has an endless belt circumscribing a plurality of pulleys, each pulley having circumferential ribs engaging mating grooves in the adjacent belt. The belt of each bag guiding assembly is drivingly connected to a mechanical transmission, a segment of each belt being parallel to and closely adjacent the bag path and on opposed lateral sides of the path in confronting relationship with one another and cooperating to engage bag tops therebetween and guide them to the sewing head. Means are provided to movably mount one of the bag guiding assemblies for movement toward and away from the remaining assembly, thereby reducing the danger of an operators limbs or clothing becoming caught therebetween. A universal coupling interconnects the power transmission and the movable bag guiding assembly to permit continuous driving of the moveable assembly. A spring device returns the moveable assembly to its rest position contacting the remaining assembly.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PNENTEDHAY 1 31% 3,882,657

sum 2 BF 3 F'rg5 BAG FEEDING APPARATUS FOR BAG CLOSING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many commercially available bag closing machines utilize a feeding apparatus to engage open topped bags, close them, and direct them to the sewing head where the bags are stitched closed. The known bag closing machines have feeding apparatuses rigidly fixed on each side of the bag path and frequently utilize endless chains parallel to and closely adjacent the path of the bags, the chains engaging the bag therebetween and rigidly holding it and directing it to the sewing head. If an operators hand, limb or clothing becomes caught in the chains of these fixed assemblies severe injuries can result. Accordingly it is desirable to replace the described rigidly fixed bag guiding assemblies and their chains with alternative structures safer for operating personnel.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to the field of industrial bag closing machines and comprises an improved bag feeding apparatus for receiving open topped bags, closing them, and directing them to an adjacent sewing head.

The bag feeding apparatus invention is used with industrial bag closing machines of the type used to close various sizes of open-topped bags containing such things as flour, feed grains, and other products conveniently packaged in bags. The filled open topped bags are moved along a conveying system through the bag closing machine, encountering the bag feeding apparatus prior to reaching the sewing head where they are stitched closed. The invention includes a rigid frame connected to the bag closing machine and from which a pair of bag guiding assemblies are supported. The bag guiding assemblies are positioned along the path of the moving bags in side by side relationship and on opposite sides of the bag path, each bag guiding assembly including a moveably mounted endless bag engaging belt which is drivingly connected to a mechanical transmission. Each of the belts has a segment substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the path, the parallel segments of the guiding assemblies being on opposed lateral sides of the path in confronting relationship with one another to closely engage the bag tops as the bags are carried along the path. At least one of the bag guiding assemblies is mounted for movement toward and away from the other bag guiding assembly so that oversized objects may pass between the assemblies without damage, thereby greatly reducing the risk of injuries to the hands and limbs of an operator.

The movably mounted bag guiding assembly is pivotally mounted to the frame by a pair of substantially parallel linkages, each linkage being pivotally mounted at one end to the frame and at its remaining end to the movable bag guiding assembly. A spring device is interconnected between the linkages to urge the movable bag guiding assembly toward the remaining guiding assembly.

Endless belts formed of rubber-like material are used on'the bag guiding assemblies in place of the described chains, resulting in greater safety to operators. It has been found that belts having a plurality of longitudinal grooves on their inner surface arranged to be matably received on pulleys having circumferential ribs provide firm traction with minimal slippage or twisting of the belts.

The movably mounted or floating bag guiding assembly provides substantially greater safety for an operator since hands or clothing inadvertently caught between the moving belts of the bag guiding assemblies are easily extricated as the floating assembly moves away from the remaining bag guiding assembly. Likelihood of physical injury is further reduced by the rubber-like material of the belts replacing the rough, sharp edged chains formerly used. While establishing these advantages, the improved bag feeding apparatus effectively engages the bags passing there-between, closes the tops thereof, and directs the bags to the sewing head for stitching. These and other advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description and the appended drawings in which correspponding elements carry identical reference numerals in the separate figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a bag closing machine embodying the improved bag feeding apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the bag guiding apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 2, taken from the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1 with portions of the apparatus broken away.

FIG. 4 is a top elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional top elevation view showing a portion of the mechanical transmission used with the embodiment of FIG. 3 and taken in the direction of arrows 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional side elevation view of a pivotal mounting usable with the bag guiding apparatus taken in the direction of arrows 6-6 of FIG. 4.

MAIN DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1 of of the drawings, a bag closing machine 12, supported on a pedestal adjacent a bag conveying platform 14 has a sewing head 16 and an improved bag feeding apparatus 10 mounted to the pedestal by any known means. Bags 18 move along a path 144 (FIG. 4) in direction 20 through the bag feeding apparatus 10 toward the sewing head 16 for stitching, the bags being closed by the bag feeding apparatus 10 and stitched closed by the sewing head. A heavyduty motor 22 drives the sewing head 16, the motor being turned on when a bag enters the immediate vicinity of the sewing head, and otherwise remaining off.

The embodiment 10 of the improved bag feeding apparatus has a rigid frame 24 formed of steel or like rigid material and including a motor mount 25 on which electric drive motor 26 is bolted to drive the bag feeding apparatus. The frame 24 further includes housing 27 and housing plate 28 rigidly attached to housing 27 by means of screws or the like. The housing 27 has an internal chamber 29 in which part of the mechanical transmission used with the apparatus 10 and described hereafter is positioned. The frame may also include a post 30 whose purpose is the carrying of an electrical micro-switch (not shown) positioned along the path 144 to be triggered by a passing bag and in response thereto close a circuit energizing the motor 22 to actuate sewing head 16. The post 30 is not required for the effective operation of the apparatus 10. The

frame 24 further includes a sleeve 32 fixedto the housing 27 in any known manner and extending outwardly downwardly therefrom.

The motor 26 serves as a drive means to energize the bag feeding apparatus as will be further described hereafter. The motor 26 has a shaft 33 (FIG. 4) on which pulley 34 is rigidly mounted. A drive belt 35 couples the pulley 34 to a pulley 36 mounted on the shaft 37 of worm gear 38, the gear 38 being rotatably mounted in worm gear housing 40. A belt guard 41 is positioned closely adjacent the belt 35 and pulleys 34 and 36 to reduce the likelihood of injury to an operator.

Gear shaft 43 is rotatably journaled in gear housing 44 and provided with a spur gear 42 fixed to the shaft 43 and in meshing engagement with worm gear 38, the gear 42 rotating in the direction of the shown arrow in FIG. 4.

The gear housing 44 is attached to the housing plate 28 of frame 24 in any known manner, the gear shaft 43 passing through the cover 28 and extending into the chamber 29 of the frame 24. The lower end of the gear shaft 43, whichprojects into the chamber 29, has a spur gear 45 mounted on the shaft for movement with the shaft 43 in the direction of the arrow on gear 45 in FIG. 5. The cover plate 28 has an aperture through which the shaft 43 and gear 45 are inserted, the gear housing 44 then being attached to the cover plate 28 by screws or other known means.

An idler spur gear 47 is rotatably mounted on shaft 48 in the chamber 29 in meshing engagement with spur gear 45 to transmit rotational energy to an adjacent spur gear 49 which is fixed to shaft 50 and will be described further hereafter. A spur gear 52 is rotatably mounted in the chamber 29 in meshing engagement with, spur gear 49, the teeth of gear 52 projecting through the side of housing 27 through an aperture in the housing to provide a power takeoff for other equipment usable with the bag closing machine but not described herein. Spur gear 45 also meshingly engages spur gear 54 which is attached to and rotates with shaft 55 to be described further hereafter. The directions of rotation of all spur gears within chamber 29 are indicated in FIG. 5 by arrows on the various gears.

The pulley 34, belt 35, pulley 36, worm gear 38, spur gear 42, shaft 43, rotatably mounted spur gears 45 and 47, along with associated mounting hardware for the recited components, collectively comprises one type of mechanical transmission 84) to transmit rotational energy from the motor 26 to a pair of bag guiding assemblies 84 and 108 to be described hereafter. While a particular mechanical transmission 80 has been described, it should be understood that other known alternative transmission systems or variations of the disclosed transmission may be used in place thereof and are within the purview of the invention.

A tube bearing 56 in which shaft 55 is rotatably mounted is positioned within sleeve 32, the spur gear 54 of shaft 55 in meshing engagement with spur gear 45. Four bolts 58 are threaded through the sleeve 32 to engage the tube bearing 56, retaining it against the inner periphery of the sleeve 32 as best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. A nut 59, threaded on the shaft of each of the bolts 58, locks the bolts in fixed position relative to,

the sleeve 32, preventing inadvertent loosening of the bolts by machine vibration.

At the lower end of the shaft 55 (FIG. 2) a pulley 60 is mounted to'the shaft to rotate therewith, the pulley 68 having a plurality of raised circumferential ribs 611;

An upper guard housing 62 is fixed. to and supported by the sleeve 32 and extends generally horizontally outwardly therefrom. An idler pulley is rotatably mounted to the upper guard housing 62, a bolt 66 being passed through washer 67, through anaperture in the housing 62, and then through step washer 68 and bearing 69 of the pulley 75. A nut 72 on bolt 66 is tightened against the bearing 69.

A second idler pulley 64 is mounted downstreamof the pulley 64 on the housing 62 in identical manner to O that described for the pulley 75. The aperture 73 through which bolt 66 is inserted to mount the pulley 75 is an elongate slot so arranged to permit the bolt to be moved therealong to tighten or loosen the endless bag engaging belt 76 described hereafter which circumscribes the pulleys 60, 64 and 75 adjacent housing 62.

Accordingly, three pulleys, namely pulleys 60, 64 I and 75, are mounted adjacent the upper guard housing 62, the pulleys 64 and 75 being idler pulleys and. the

pulley 60 being positively driven by the shaft 55. Each l of the pulleys is provided with circumferential ribs 61 I and an endless belt 76 formed of rubber-like material I circumscribes the pulleys and has a plurality of grooves 78 on its inner surface which rnatably receive therib's 61 on the pulleys, preventing thebelts from twistingor slipping when in use.

The upper guard housing 62, rotatably mounted idler pulleys 64 and 75, drive pulley 60, endless belt 76 circumscribing the three pulleys, shaft 55, bearing 56 and spur gear 54 collectively comprise a bag guiding assem bly 84 drivingly connected to the mechanical transmis sion 80. A lower guard plate 82 is attached to the upper are within the purview of the invention. 7

Referring now to FIG. 6, an upper tube bearing mount 86 is fixed to frame 24 and retains tube bearing 88 therein. The bearing 88 rotatably mounts shaft 50' on which the spur gear 49, already described, is

mounted for rotation with the shaft. The lowerend of I the shaft 50 of tube bearing 88 has a hexagonal cross section socket 90 which receives and pivotally mounts the upper hexagonal end 92 of dogbone'shaft 94.

The lower end 95 of the shaft 94 is of hexagonal cross section and is pivotally mounted within hexagonal cross section socket 96 of shaft97 which is mounted for rotation in bearing 98, the shaft 97 extending through plate 99 and guard housing 100. Accordingly, rotationof t'he a dogbone shaft 94 rotates the shaft 97 which extends through the guard housing 106 and carries a pulleyfl 02 mounted thereto for rotation with the shaft. The pulley 102 is substantially identical to the pulleys 60,64 and 74, already described, being provided with circumferential ribs 61. The guard housing has idler pulleys 104 and 106' rotatably mounted thereto by bolts 66in thesame manner described in conjunction with guiding assembly 84,! both pulleys being substantially identical to pulleys 64,, i and 75 of bag guiding assembly 84. An endless bag engaging belt 107 substantially identical to belt-76 cirf cumscribes the pulleys 102, 104 and 106, the belt also having a plurality of grooves 78 extending longitudinally on its inner surface and mating with ribs 61on the pulleys 102, 104 and 106. The guard housing 100, pulleys 102, 104 and 106, belt 107, shaft 97, bearing 98, dogbone shaft 94, upper bearing 88, spur gear 49 mounted to bearing shaft 50, and mount 86 collectively comprise one form of a movable or floating bag guiding assembly 108 drivingly connected to the transmission I 80. The dogbone shaft 94, and the shown bearings 88 and 98 form a universal coupling permitting the floating bag guiding assembly 108 to swing outwardly away from the bag guiding assembly 84 to a displaced position 138 as will be described further hereafter. A lower guard 110 is attached to the guard housing 100 in any known manner to provide additional protection for an operator adjcent the machine.

Referring now to FIG. 4, three pulleys are associated with each bag guiding assembly 108 and 84 and so positioned that each assembly has a pair of pulleys, such as pulleys 60 and 64, and pulleys 102 and 104 substantially tangent to the path 144 along which moving bags 18 travel, assuring that the endless belts 76 and 107 closely engage the bags. A pulley 75 on assembly 84 and pulley 106 on assembly 108 are spaced horizontally outwardly from the path 144 and upstream of the described pulleys which are tangent to the path 144, causing the belts 76 and 107 to diverge outwardly from the path 144, the bag guiding assemblies 108 and 84 cooperating to form V-shaped slot upstream of the described pairs of tangent pulleys and centered on the path 144 for receiving open topped bags. As bags are received in the V-shaped slot, the bag tops are closed and the bags funneled toward the apex of the slot where the belt segments 152 and 154 between pulleys 102 and 104 and pulleys 60 and 64, respectively, engage the bags and guide them through the bag feeding assembly toward the sewing head 16.

A mounting plate 112 is fixed to the upper tube bearing mount 86 in any known manner, the plate having a pair of generally vertically oriented downwardly extending flanges 113 and 114. A similar mounting plate 99 is fixed to the upper surface of the guard housing 100 and has a pair of substantially identical flanges 113 and 114 extending upwardly therefrom.

Substantially parallel linkages 116 and 118 extend between and are pivotally mounted to plates 112 and 99. The first linkage 118 is pivotally mounted to the plates by first generally parallel shafts 120 and 122 adjacent the frame 24 and guiding assembly 108, respectively. Second generally parallel shafts 124 and 126 adjacent the frame 24 and the bag guiding assembly 108, respectively, pivotally mount the second linkage 116 between the plates 99 and 113. The linkages 116 and 118 are formed of channel material having flanges 150 at lateral sides, the flanges 150 of second linkage 116 extending toward and confronting the like flanges of the first linkage 118 to provide a guard-like'structure about the dogbone shaft 94 and spring device 136 between the assemblies. It is preferred, but not essential that the means 127 be a pivotal mounting.

An arm 130 is pivotally mounted to the shaft 126 adjacent linkage 116 and extends towardthe opposed linkage 118. The arm 130 has a finger 132 extending upwardly therefrom, the'finger 132 being closely adjacent the second linkage 116. A coil spring 134 is attached between the free end of arm 130 and first shaft 120, it being preferred that the spring 134 be under tension when the floating bag guiding assembly 108 is in a rest position with its belt 107 in contact with belt 76 of bag guiding assembly 84.

The arm 130 and spring 134 collectively comprise a spring device 136 which becomes spring loaded when the moveably mounted or floating guiding assembly 108 moves outwardly from its rest position against assembly 84 to the displaced position 138 (FIG. 6).

A bolt 140, is threaded through an aperture in second linkage 116, a nut 142 being positioned on. the shank of the bolt 140 to be tightened against linkage 116 to provide a locking means to prevent unwanted turning of belt 140. The shank of the bolt 140 contacts the extended finger 132 of arm 130, determining the distance from finger 132 to the inner surface of linkage 116. As the finger 132 is urged farther from the linkage 116, the spring 134 becomes increasingly tensioned to exert increasing restoring force to urge the floating bag guiding assembly 108 toward the assembly 84. The bolt 140 and nut 142 collectively comprise a selectively moveable stop on the second linkage and are positioned to contact the finger 132 and so constructed as to selectively move the finger toward and away from the linkage 116 to vary the tension on the spring 134.

A pair of stationary fingers 146 and 148 are positioned on opposed sides of the path 144 and extend downstream of the frame 24 to direct the bags 18 to the sewing head 16.

In operation, bags 18 move along conveyor 14 in direction 20 along path 144 which passes through the bag feeding apparatus 10 and the sewing head 16. The sewing head 16 is normally not running, a microswitch being attached to the lower end of post 30 and serving to actuate the motor 22 to drive the sewing head when a bag closes the switch. Since it is desirable to have the 4 bag feeding apparatus 10 in operation whenever the tween the linkages 116 and 118, to be described further means 127 mounting the bag guiding assembly 108 for v movement toward and away from the other bag guiding assembly 84 so that an oversize object may pass beconveyor 14 is operating, the motor 26, which serves as a drive means for the apparatus 10, operates when the conveyor 14 is running. The rotating shaft 33 of motor 26 transmits rotational energy through pulley 34, belt 35 and coupled pulley 36 to the shaft 36 or worm gear 38. The worm gear 38 is in meshing relationship with the spur gear 42 and causes the spur gear to rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4, the rotation of gear 42 being transmitted along shaft 43 to the spur gear 45 in transmission chamber 29 (FIG. 5).

v Spur gear 45 rotates in the indicated direction (FIG.

5), transmitting its rotation to adjacent engaged spur gear 54 and shaft 55. Rotation of shaft 55 turns the pulley 60 at the lower end of the shaft 55. Rotating pulley 60 provides driving rotation to endless belt 76 which circumscribes the rotatably mounted pulleys 60, 64 and of bag guiding assembly 84. The circumferential ribs 61 about each of the pulleys 60, 64 and 75 are matably received in grooves 78 on the inner side of the endless belt 76, assuring that the belt 76 remains firmly in place about the pulleys and does not slip or twist during operation. Directions of rotation of gears and belts are indicated by arrows in FIGS. 4 and 5.

If the belt 76 of 107 requires tightening, bolt 66 passing through slot 73 is loosened and the pulley 64 or104 pulled away from the sewing head 16 tightening the belt 76. The bolt 66 is then retightened.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the idler spur gear 47 rotates about shaft 48 transmitting rotational energy from spur gear 45 to spur gear 49 which is fixed to shaft 50. As best shown in FIG. 6, the shaft 50 rotates in bearing 88 and causes hexagonal cross section socket 90 to turn the dogbone shaft 94, transmitting movement through it to shaft 97 of lower bearing 98, in which the hexago nal end 95 of the shaft 94 is moveably retained. Rotation of the shaft 97 of bearing 98 rotates the attached drive pulley 102.

Idler pulleys 104 and 106 are rotatably mounted to the housing 100 of floating bag guiding assembly 108 and endless belt 107 circumscribes and rotates with the pulleys 102, 104 and106. The belt 107 is identical to belt 76 and is provided withgrooves along its inner length which matably receive circumferential ribs 61 on each of the pulleys used on bag guiding assembly 108. The directions of rotation of the pulleys 104 and 106 and of the endless belts are shown in FIG. 4. The speed of belt rotation is selected to be compatible with the linear velocity of the moving conveyor 14;

The hexagonal cross section ends 92 and 95 of dog bone shaft 94 are moveably mounted in the sockets 90 and 96, respectively and accordingly the shaft 94 and described sockets provide a universal coupling which delivers continuous driving energy to the pulley 102 as floating bag guiding assembly 108 swings between its rest position in contact with assembly 84 and displaced position 138.

In the event an oversize object such as a workmans hand, limb or article of clothing becomes caught between the bag guiding assemblies 84 and 108, the floating or moveable assembly 108 swings outwardly away from the bag guiding assembly 84 to a displaced position 138. As the floating assembly 108 moves out-' wardly, parallel linkages 116 and 118 pivot about upper shafts 120 and 124 and lower shafts 122 and 126 permitting the bag guiding assembly 108 to swing relative to the remaining bag guiding assembly 84. As

swinging movement occurs, the dogbone shaft 94 pivots in its upper and lower sockets 90 and 96, moving with the floating assembly 108 and continuing to supply uninterrupted driving energy to the pulley 102. As the assembly 108 swings away from assembly 84 the coil spring 134 becomes further tensioned to exert an increasing restoring force tending to pull the shafts 126 and 120 toward one another, resulting in the floating assembly 108 returning toward the stationary assembly 84 as soon as the object between the bag guiding assemblies is removed.

It is preferred that the confronting belt segments 152 and 154 on opposed lateral sides of the path 144 be in contacting relationship with one another to best cooperate in closely engaging the bag tops as the bags 18 move along the path, thereby guiding the bag tops to the sewing head 16 for stitching. In the event the floating bag guiding assembly 108 does not move sufficiently toward bag guiding assembly84 for the belt segments 152 and 154 to contact one another, an operator may turn the bolt 140 in linkage 116, advancing the bolttoward the linkage 116 and urging finger 132 further from the linkage116. Such movement of finger" 132 increases the spring tension on spring 134 causing I greater force to be exerted to swing the assembly108. 7 toward the assembly 84. Such tightening of the bolt accordingly results in greater forcelbeing applied to keep the endless belt 107 in contact with the belt 76.

The linkages 116 and 118 are formed of channel ma-, terial having side flanges through which the shafts 120, 122, 124 and 126 arepivotally mounted, the flanges 150'closely surrounding the dogbone shaft 94 and the spring device 136 to preventaccidental entry of an operators hands, limbs or clothingtherebetween and thereby preventing accident.

The outward divergence of belts76 and 107 from path 144 and toward idler pulleys 74 and 106 creates a V-shaped receiving area upstream of the idlerpulleys i 104 and 64, the receiving area serving to receive and funnel oncoming bag tops toward contactingibelt seg ments 152 and 154 and to aid in closing the bag tops 1 prior to their being engaged between segments 152 and 154 and guided to sewing head 16. 9

Although a single floating bag guiding assembly 108 I is shown, it should be understood that if desired, the

shown stationary guiding assembly 84 may also befpro vided with means moveably mounting the assembly rel-. ative to the path 144. Such means could be substantially identical to that disclosed forJthe assembly108.

Accordingly, the disclosed bag feeding apparatus invention is a substantial improvementiover known bag; feeding apparatuses in that it offers greatly improved safety to an operator. Accidental insertionof hands,

limbs, clothing or other oversize objects between the bag guiding assemblies will result in no harm to the'op erator since the floating assembly 108 simply swings i V outwardly from the remaining assembly 84 permitting the safe passage of the object. In addition, theguse of I rubber-like endless belts 76 and 107 .will not harm an operator and eliminates the cutting, tearing hazards.

previously existing with chains.

While the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings has been described withconsiderablepar-,

ticularlity, it is to be expressly understood that the in,-

vention is not limited thereto, as the same is'capable of receiving a variety of expressions as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, featuresillustrated and described may be omitted if not desired, or can be com-1 bined in various ways, and various parts may bereplaced by equivalents withoutideparting from the spirit I V of the invention. 7 What is claimed is: 1. In combination with a bag closing a rigid frame connected to the support member;

a mechanical transmission having a driving connection to the drive means to receive rotational energy therefrom;

machine a 1 wherein open top bags are carried along a path at a predetermined linear velocity past a sewing head connected to a support member, and having a drive means--an improved bag feeding apparatus comprising:

guiding assemblies being on opposed lateral sides of the path in confronting relationship with one another, said endless belts moving at a velocity compatible with the linear velocity at which the bags are carried along the path and cooperating to closely engage the bag tops as the bags are carried along the path, guiding the bags to the sewing head for stitching; and

means mounting at least one of said bag guiding assemblies for freely floating movement of the entire bag guiding assembly between a rest position, wherein said movably mounted assembly is closely adjacent the other one of said assemblies to thereby permit closely engaging a bag top therebetween, and a displaced position, wherein said movably mounted bag guiding assembly is spaced from the other one of said bag guiding assemblies to per mit an oversized object exceeding the thickness of including a spring device on said mounting means spring loading spring device includes an arm pivotally mounted at one end to said second shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly and further includes a spring connected between the second end of said arm' and the said first shaft adjacent said frame.

3. The bag apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means moveably mounting the moveable bag guiding assembly swings toward and away from the other one of said guiding assemblies and wherein said pivotal mounting includes a first shaft adjacent said frame and stationary relative thereto, a first shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly, and a first linkage pivotally mounted between said first shafts for swinging movement about said shafts.

4. The bag feeding apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pivotal mounting further includes a second shaft adjacent said frame and stationary relative thereto and substantially parallel'to said first shaft adjacent said frame,

a second shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly and substantially parallel to said first shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly, and a second linkage substantially parallel to said first linkage and pivotally mounted between said second shafts for swinging movement about said second shafts.

5. The bag feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said moveably mounted bag guiding assembly is drivingly connected to said mechanical transmission by a univer sal coupling.

6. In combination with a bag closing machine wherein open-top bags are carried along a path at a predetermined linear velocity past a sewing head connected to a support member, and having a drive means--an improved bag feeding apparatus comprising:

a rigid frame connected to the support member;

a mechanical transmission having a driving connection to the drive means to receive rotational energy therefrom;

a pair of bag guiding assemblies supported from said frame and positioned along the path in side-by-side relationship on opposite sides thereof, each of said guiding assemblies including a moveably mounted endlessbag engaging belt, drivingly connected to said mechanical transmission and each of said belts having a segment substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the path, the said segments of said guiding assemblies being on opposed lateral sides of the path in confronting relationship with one another, said endless belts moving at a velocity compatible with the linear velocity at which the bags are carried along the path and cooperating to closely engage the bag tops as the bags are carried along the path, guiding the bags to the sewing head for stitching;

means mounting at least one of said bag guiding assemblies for movement toward and away from the other one of said bag guiding assemblies so that an oversized object may pass between said assemblies without damage, said means moveably mounting the moveable bag guiding assembly including a pivotal mounting whereby said moveably mounted bag guiding assembly swings toward and away from the other one of said guiding assemblies;

said pivotal mounting including a first shaft adjacent said frame, a first shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly, and a first linkage pivotally mounted between said first shafts for swinging movement about said shafts;

said pivotal mounting further including a second shaft adjacent said frame and substantially parallel to said first shaft adjacent said frame, a second shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly and substantially parallel to said first shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly, and a second linkage substantially parallel to said first linkage and pivotally mounted between said second shafts forswinging movement about said second shafts;

and

a spring device having one end connected to a said first shaft and a second end connected to a said second shaft, one of said shafts to which said spring device is connected being adjacent said frame and the remaining shaft to which said spring device is connected being adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly and said spring device being spring loaded to urge said moveable bag guiding assembly toward. the other one of said bag guiding assemblies.

7. The bag feeding apparatus of claim 6 wherein said centered on the path for receiving and closing opentopped bags.

8. The bag feeding apparatus of claim 7 wherein said arm has an integral finger extending outwardly therefrom at the end of said arm which is pivotally mounted to said second shaft, said finger being adjacent said second linkage and arranged to increase the tension on said spring when said finger is urged away from said 3,882,657 ill semblies for freely floating movement of the entire tops as the bags are carried along the path and to guide the bags to the sewing headfor stitching; and meansmo'unting at least one of'said bag guiding as-- bag guiding assembly between a rest position,

a mechanical transmission drivingly connectable to the drive means to receive rotational energy therefrom,

a pair of bag guiding assemblies positionable along the path in side-by-side relationship on opposite 1 ably mounted bag guiding assembly is spaced from sides thereof, each of said guiding assemblies inthe other one of said bag guiding assemblies to pereluding a moveably mounted endless bag engaging mit an oversized object exceeding the thickness of belt drivingly connected to said mechanical transa bag top to pass between said assemblies, said 7 mission and each of said belts having a segment movably mounted :bag guiding assembly freely I: substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the floatable between said rest positionand displaced path, said segments of said guiding assemblies position during guiding ,of bag tops along the path being on opposed lateral sides of the path in conby said bag guiding assemblies, said parallel belt fronting relationship with one another, said endless segments remaining substantially parallelfato the belts moving at a velocity compatible with the linpath during said floating movement of said movear velocity at which the bags are carried along the ably mounted assembly. path and cooperating so as to closely engage bag i wherein said movably mountedassembly is closely adjacent the other one of said assemblies to thereby permit closely engaging a bag top therebetween, and a displaced position, wherein said movz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. ,657 Dated y 1975 lnventofls) Harold & I. George Fischbein and Sam Shark It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 2, L. 17: Delete "correspponding and substitute --corresponding--. Col. 5, L. 31: After the word "form" insert --a--. Col. 6, L. 51: Delete "36 or" and substitute ---37 of--. C01. 8, L. 15: Delete "'74" and substitute ---75--.

C01. 8, L. 41-2: Delete "particularlity" and substitute --particularity--.

Col. 9, L. 27-33: Claim 2 should read:

--The bag feeding apparatus of claim 1 and further including a spring device on said mounting means spring loading said moveably mounted guiding assembly as it moves away from the other one of said guiding assemblies, generating a restoring force urging said moveably mounted guiding assembly toward the other one of said guiding assemblies.--

' Col. 9, L. 34: After the word "bag" insert --feeding--.

Col. lO,L. 50-52: Claim 7 should read:

--The bag feeding apparatus of claim 6 wherein said spring device includes an arm pivotally mounted at one end to said second shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly and further includes a spring connected between the second end of said arm and the said first shaft adjacent said frame.

Col. lO,L. 62-3: Delete "construcuted" and substitute constructed- Signed and Scaled this [sum f D cember 1975 Attest:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner uflatems and Tridenlflks 

1. In combination with a bag closing machine wherein open top bags are carried along a path at a predetermined linear velocity past a sewing head connected to a support member, and having a drive means--an improved bag feeding apparatus comprising: a rigid frame connected to the support member; a mechanical transmission having a driving connection to the drive means to receive rotational energy therefrom; a pair of bag guiding assemblies supported from said frame and positioned along the path in side-by-side relationship on opposite sides thereof, each of said guiding assemblies including a moveably mounted endless bag engaging belt drivingly connected to said mechanical transmission and each of said belts having a segment substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the path, the said segments of said guiding assemblies being on opposed lateral sides of the path in confronting relationship with one another, said endless belts moving at a velocity compatible with the linear velocity at which the bags are carried along the path and cooperating to closely engage the bag tops as the bags are carried along the path, guiding the bags to the sewing head for stitching; and means mounting at least one of said bag guiding assemblies for freely floating movement of the entire bag guiding assembly between a rest position, wherein said movably mounted assembly is closely adjacent the other one of said assemblies to thereby permit closely engaging a bag top therebetween, and a displaced position, wherein said movably mounted bag guiding assembly is spaced from the other one of said bag guiding assemblies to permit an oversized object exceeding the thickness of a bag top to pass between said assemblies, said movably mounted bag guiding assembly freely floatable between said rest position and displaced position during guiding of bag tops along the path by said bag guiding assemblies, said parallel belt segments remaining substantially parallel to the path during said floating movement of said movably mounted assembly.
 2. The bag feeding apparatus of claim 1 and further including a spring device on said mounting means spring loading spring device includes an arm pivotally mounted at one end to said second shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly and further includes a spring connected between the second end of said arm and the said first shaft adjacent said frame.
 3. The bag apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means moveably mounting the moveable bag guiding assembly swings toward and away from the other one of said guiding assemblies and wherein said pivotal mounting includes a first shaft adjacent said frame and stationary relative thereto, a first shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly, and a first linkage pivotally mounted between said first shafts for swinging movement about said shafts.
 4. The bag feeding apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pivotal mounting further includes a second shaft adjacent said frame and stationary relative thereto and substantially parallel to said first shaft adjacent said frame, a second shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly and substantially parallel to said first shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly, and a second linkage substantially parallel to said first linkage and pivotally mounted between said second shafts for swinging movement about said second shafts.
 5. The bag feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said moveably mounted bag guiding assembly is drivingly connected to said mechanical transmission by a universal coupling.
 6. In combination with a bag closing machine wherein open-top bags are cArried along a path at a predetermined linear velocity past a sewing head connected to a support member, and having a drive means--an improved bag feeding apparatus comprising: a rigid frame connected to the support member; a mechanical transmission having a driving connection to the drive means to receive rotational energy therefrom; a pair of bag guiding assemblies supported from said frame and positioned along the path in side-by-side relationship on opposite sides thereof, each of said guiding assemblies including a moveably mounted endless bag engaging belt, drivingly connected to said mechanical transmission and each of said belts having a segment substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the path, the said segments of said guiding assemblies being on opposed lateral sides of the path in confronting relationship with one another, said endless belts moving at a velocity compatible with the linear velocity at which the bags are carried along the path and cooperating to closely engage the bag tops as the bags are carried along the path, guiding the bags to the sewing head for stitching; means mounting at least one of said bag guiding assemblies for movement toward and away from the other one of said bag guiding assemblies so that an oversized object may pass between said assemblies without damage, said means moveably mounting the moveable bag guiding assembly including a pivotal mounting whereby said moveably mounted bag guiding assembly swings toward and away from the other one of said guiding assemblies; said pivotal mounting including a first shaft adjacent said frame, a first shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly, and a first linkage pivotally mounted between said first shafts for swinging movement about said shafts; said pivotal mounting further including a second shaft adjacent said frame and substantially parallel to said first shaft adjacent said frame, a second shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly and substantially parallel to said first shaft adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly, and a second linkage substantially parallel to said first linkage and pivotally mounted between said second shafts for swinging movement about said second shafts; and a spring device having one end connected to a said first shaft and a second end connected to a said second shaft, one of said shafts to which said spring device is connected being adjacent said frame and the remaining shaft to which said spring device is connected being adjacent said moveable bag guiding assembly and said spring device being spring loaded to urge said moveable bag guiding assembly toward the other one of said bag guiding assemblies.
 7. The bag feeding apparatus of claim 6 wherein said centered on the path for receiving and closing open-topped bags.
 8. The bag feeding apparatus of claim 7 wherein said arm has an integral finger extending outwardly therefrom at the end of said arm which is pivotally mounted to said second shaft, said finger being adjacent said second linkage and arranged to increase the tension on said spring when said finger is urged away from said second linkage.
 9. The bag feeding apparatus of claim 8 and further including a selectively moveable stop on said second linkage positioned to contact said finger and so construcuted as to selectively move said finger toward and away from said outer linkage to decrease and increase, respectively, the tension on said spring to thereby permit selective variation of the restoring force of said spring.
 10. A bag feeding apparatus usable with a bag closing machine having a sewing head and drive means wherein open-topped bags are carried along a path at a predetermined, linear velocity past the sewing head comprising: a mechanical transmission drivingly connectable to the drive means to receive rotational energy therefrom, a pair of bag guiding assemblies positionable along the path in side-by-side relationship on opposite sides thereof, each of Said guiding assemblies including a moveably mounted endless bag engaging belt drivingly connected to said mechanical transmission and each of said belts having a segment substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the path, said segments of said guiding assemblies being on opposed lateral sides of the path in confronting relationship with one another, said endless belts moving at a velocity compatible with the linear velocity at which the bags are carried along the path and cooperating so as to closely engage bag tops as the bags are carried along the path and to guide the bags to the sewing head for stitching; and means mounting at least one of said bag guiding assemblies for freely floating movement of the entire bag guiding assembly between a rest position, wherein said movably mounted assembly is closely adjacent the other one of said assemblies to thereby permit closely engaging a bag top therebetween, and a displaced position, wherein said movably mounted bag guiding assembly is spaced from the other one of said bag guiding assemblies to permit an oversized object exceeding the thickness of a bag top to pass between said assemblies, said movably mounted bag guiding assembly freely floatable between said rest position and displaced position during guiding of bag tops along the path by said bag guiding assemblies, said parallel belt segments remaining substantially parallel to the path during said floating movement of said movably mounted assembly. 